The first foldable Pixel phone is set to arrive in 2022, and it will not use the same high-end camera sensors found in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

One of the biggest jumps forward for the Pixel line this year was in the camera department. Where typically Google’s phones would compensate for outdated camera hardware with truly impressive software and machine learning enhancements, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro upgrade to a 50MP rear camera. Beyond the cheap metric of megapixels, the Samsung GN1 sensor in the Pixel 6 series is physically larger, which allows for more light and more detailed photos. [1]

Figure 1. The Google Pixel Foldable Phone

Figure 1 shows Google's design plans for the Pixel Fold largely come from multiple patent filings the company has made for foldable devices. One such patent shows a device that opens on a hinge to reveal a larger screen, with the ability to slide out an additional display for added screen real estate. Another patent intriguingly teases a foldable that could fold in three places. Another report from The Elec backs up the claim that the Google Pixel Fold will feature a 7.6-inch display.

Google Pixel Fold price

The upcoming Pixel Fold's biggest competitor – the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 costs $1,799, although it can often be found for less, especially with trade-in. Based on that, we can expect the Google Pixel Fold to also be anywhere between $1,499 and $1,799, as it's unlikely that Google's foldable phone would cost more to produce than the Z Fold 3, while at the same time it's plausible that the search engine giant would want to undercut the competition. [2]

Google Pixel Fold features and software

The Google Pixel Fold will be running Android 12. Based on the Android 12 Beta, we expect it to bring features specific to folding phones, likely with a focus on multitasking, so that users can take full advantage of their big displays. Samsung's Z Fold 2 for example supports up to three apps in split-screen, with even more in windowed mode. We expect similar features from Android 12 for the Pixel Fold.

Android 12 also brings new user customization features, improved performance, privacy, security and more. See our Android 12 preview for more details about Google's latest software. [2]

References:

1. https://9to5google.com/2021/11/04/googles-pixel-foldable-coming-in-2022-cameras-will-be-a-step-down-from-pixel-6/
2. https://www.phonearena.com/google-pixel-fold-release-date-price-features-news
3. https://www.tomsguide.com/news/google-pixel-fold

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2021), The Google Pixel Foldable Phone, pp. 35